Article handling and transfer apparatus



Feb. 12, 1957 J. A. HEIDEN ARTICLE HANDLING AND TRANSFER APPARATUS 2 She'ts-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 13, 1953 INVENTOR. JOHN H. HEIDEN my; 2

HIS HTTORNEY .Feb. 12, 1957 J. A. HEIDEN 2,

ARTICLE HANDLING AND TRANSFER APPARATUS Filed 00 15, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. JOHN H. HEIDEA] H18 HT TORJYEVY Unite States nearing and Foundry Company, Pittsburgh, Pa a corporation of Pennsylvania Application'flctober '13, 1953; Serial No. 385,829 11 Claims. Cl. 198-29) This 'inve'ntion'relates tin general to apparatus for handling heavy elongated metallic articles such asbillets, slabs and the like and, in particular; to apparatus-adapted to separate a stack or group 'of' elongate'd articles for delivery singly or in multiples depending on 'size' to-a reheating furnace or 'other'processing equipment;

H'eretofore, considerable difiiculty, inconvenience and danger to the workman hasbeen experienced inseparating the individual billets or slabs from-a pile or group and then,for example, transporting them singly or in multiples depending on' size-to a reheating furnace. The usual practice is to tumble a mass of the workpieces onto parallel "downwardly sloping skids where'workmen by theme of hooks graspthe'billet's or-slabs'and slide them to a con'veyorfor charging into afurnace. As the individual wo'rkpieces are separated there is dangerof those remaining on' the pile being"dislodged'tocascade downward and endanger theworkmenstationed' along the skids.

' One of the objects of this invention is'to-provideapparatus for 'separating and aligning billets or-slabs of a group quickly and e'fliciently which are to be passed individuallyor iii-multiples depending-on size to processing apparatus.

It is another object of this invention to provide apparatus for'auto'matically separating and aligningarticles which is simple of construction, eficient in operation and economical to maintain.

- Still another object of this invention is to provide apparatus upon which there may be placedsubstantially transversely thereof a group of elongated articles in a more or less disarranged mass which, by initially cascading the group and-then moving the members of the group at a decreasing speed as the articles progresstoward the'delivery end, are completely separated, aligned and arranged side by side adjacent to one. another.

' These objects as well as the various other novel features and'advantages of this invention will be apparent, from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation-view of the apparatus embodying the features of the invention herein disclosed;

i Figure" 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shownin Figure 1 and, i

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken at IIIIII of. Figure 1. I

Wfith reference to the drawings Figures 1 and 2,-the apparatus includes a frame made up of two pairs of-.pa rallel skids ll supported attheir ends upon bases 12 and 13 and two pairs of parallel skids 14 supported at their ends upon bases 13 and 15. The skids 1'1 are'positioned outboard of and parallel to the skids 14 and are provided at theirtop edges with-asloping portion 16 which communicates with-the first of a-series'of uniform relatively wide stepped cutouts 17 extending along the-lengthsgof the skids 1-1. The-skids 14 are also provided with a plurality of uniform stepped cutouts 18 which, for a 2 ,78 1,120 Patented Feb. '12, 11957 purpose to be defined "hereinafter, are somewhat narrower than the stepped cutouts 17.

Betweeneach pair ofskids 11 there is positioned for back and forth horizontal movement a plate-19having stepped'cutouts 21 which correspond to those provided in the skids 1-1. Each of the plates 19, supported-by grooved rollers 22 mounted between the skids 11, are connected by linksg23 to levers 24 which are keyed toa common rock shaft 25 supported along its length in bearings 26.

Alsoconnect'ed to the shaft 25 there is a sliding crank arm 27 having 'a slot '28 extending along its length and within which there is positioned for sliding movement a block 29. Attached to the block-29 there is-a pin131: of a-crank 32' connected -to ashaft 33 H driven by a motor 34i through-a pairof gear reduction units 35 and36. On rotation of thecrauk 32, theblock -29 slides back and forth within the' slot'28 therehyto impa-rt-tothe arm 27 an oscillatory motion and tothe shaftZS a-rockingmotion, thus causing the plate 19 to'be moved'to and fro in a' horizontal plane. in their withdrawn positi'ons,-as shown in Figure 1, the treads ofthe stepped portionsll are at a slightly lowerlevel thanthose of the stationary skids 14 and the risers thereof are a little to the rear of those of the'stationary plates to which they-correspo'nd. A slow forward and quick return motionis impartedto'the stepped-plates 19 by driving the-crank32 in a counter-clockwise directionso that asthe crank-rotates from substantially its present position, as shown in l igure 3,'to a-pesitionsubstantially diametricallyopposite thereto, the distance betWeent-he shaft '25 and the crank 32' is greater'thanj-it is when the crank'is in the upper portion-of its throw, thus causing the sliding crank arm to-osciiiate more slowly when urging the plates 19 forward and more quickly when returning the plates E9 to their rearward or withdrawn positions. I

Provided'betweenthe lower frame skids 14 there are three'sets of parallel reciprocating plates which are positioned in tiered or stacked relationship and slidable relativ'ely to one another. The first or lower pair 37 are provided with a plurality of stepped portions 38 corresponding to the cutouts of the skids 14 and "the-plates are supported upon grooved rollers 39 mounted between the, pairs of plates 14 so as to permit horizontal back and forth movement thereof.

A second pair of horizontally reciprocable plates 41 are located'between the skids l4, slidably mounted upon the plates37, and provided with a plurality of stepped cutouts 42 corresponding to those formed in the skids 14 and plates 37. At the lower end of the plates 41 there are provided two short horizontal members 41a which. serve as an additional step, made necessary'for clearance purposes to avoid interfering with the upper ends of the plates 37 as the plates 41 are reciprocated longitudinally.

The'third 'or upper pair of plates 43 which also have'a plurality of stepped cutouts44 are slidably mounted upon the middle pair of plates 41. Just as for plates 41, two short members 43a are secured to the lower ends of plate 43 to provide an additional step and to avo id interfering. with the upper ends of the plates 41 as the plates 43 are reciprocated longitudinally.

Backjandf forth horizontal motion is irnparted to the three pairs of stepped 'plates37, 41 and 43 by means of a motor 44 and gear reduction unit 45 connected thereto through. a series of separate speed reduction gear units 46, 47 and 48 and suitable linkage, levers, and rock shafts. V

Thetwo lower reciprocable plates 37 are=connected by links-49 to levers 51- keyed to a rock1shaft152,;agd;to which a lever 53 is secured having connected thereto a rod 54 extending from and connected to a pin 55 of a crank 56 driven by the gear reduction unit 46, the two intermediate reciprocable plates 41 are connected by links 57 to levers 58 keyed to a rock shaft 59 to which a lever 61 is secured having connected thereto, a rod 62 extending from and connected to the pin 63 of a crank 64 driven by the gear reduction unit 47, and the upper plates 43 are connected by links 65 to a lever 66 keyed to a rock shaft 67 from which, there extends a lever 68 pivotally secured to a rod 69 connected to a pin 71 of a crank 72 driven by the gear reduction unit 48. So that the strokes of each of the slidable plates 37, 41 and 43 will be the same in extent, the throw of the cranks 56, 64 and 72 are all equal and the lever 51 equal in length to the lever 53, the elfective length of lever 58 equal to the lever 61 and the effective length of the lever 66 equal to the lever 68.

A line shaft 73 connects the main gear reduction unit 45 to the three units 46, 47 and 48. The gear ratios of the three units 46, 47 and 48 are such that the upper 'plates 43 may be reciprocated two to three times faster than the intermediate plates 41 and from four to nine times faster than the plates 37 Though the motor 34 and gearing units 35 and 36 are not directly connected to these units 46, 47 and 48, the speed of the motor 34 is so regulated that the plates 19 travel forward about one-fourth as fast as do the plates In dot and dash lines there is shown in Figure 1 at .the lower or delivery side of the apparatus a driven roller conveyor 74 for receiving individual billets or slabs from the apparatus and directing them to a reheating furnace or other processing equipment.

The operation of the apparatus herein described may be briefly summarized as follows:

, The motors 34 and 44 are actuated thereby driving the several speed reduction units and reciprocating the various pairs of plates and imposing upon them relative speeds of the order of those pointed out heretofore, namely plates 19 moved at about one-fourth the speed of plates 43, and plates 43 moved two to three times as fast as the plates 41 and three to nine times as fast as plates 37.

A group of elongated slabs, for example, is carried in a sling by an overhead crane from a position of storage to the apparatus and released from a position above the sloping cut-away portions 16 of the skids 11. The slabs will cascade downward and though they may be in a somewhat scrambled state, they become partially separated and spread out along the stepped cut-outs 17. The risers of the stepped portions 21 of plates 19, as they move forward, engage with the edge portion of the slab adjacent thereto and push it forward on to the next lower step and, as the plates 19 are rapidly withdrawn by virtue of the sliding crank motion herein defined, the portion of the slab resting thereon drops down to the next adjacent step of the stationary skids 11 and those slabs still remaining in a somewhat grouped relationship are jogged thereby to separate them further. As noted in Figure l the steps 17 are rather wide, the purpose being to receive and, if necessary, momentarily store a large number of slabs of the group since it is on these steps that the entire group is first deposited and at least partially separated. Then, too, the forward speed of reciprocation of the'stepped plates 19 is purposely set at about onefourth that of the plates 43 so that the next adjacent skids 14 and the stepped movable members 41 cooperating therewith do not become jammed by having a greater number of slabs fed thereto than can be accommodated conveniently should, for example, one of the slabs be so out of line as to have one end thereof resting upon the stepped portions 18 at the upper end of the skids 14 while the trailing end rests upon the last of the stepped portions 17. Though the stepped plates 19 travel, forward much slower than do the plates 43, when the trailing end of the slab finally is pushed onto the firststepped portion 18 of the skids 14, misalignment is at least partially corrected for inasmuch as the drop is suflicient to cause the trailing end to gain momentum and, further, as mentioned heretofore, since the stepped cut-out portions 18 are relatively narrow, the slab will slide over the first step and possibly over several others thereby to align the slab transversely across the apparatus. However, if the alignment has not been completed at this particular station, subsequent action by the next adjacent reciprocating slower moving plates 41 and 37 will cause the leading end of the misaligned slabs again to be retarded While the faster moving plates will engage with and urge forward the trailing end at a faster rate, thereby to complete the alignment of the slabs. As the slabs travel down the stepped skids 14, they place themselves in side by side relationship and on arriving at the lower end of the apparatus they are either dropped singly or in multiples depending on the size. upon the conveyor 74 to be carried away to a reheating furnace or other processing apparatus.

Depending upon the thickness of the slabs being handled the stepped portions are so proportioned as to insure positive action by the riser portions of the various moving stepped plates in order to avoid piling up of the slabs as they pass from one step to the next. For example, if the slabs are rather thin as compared with the height of the riser, an unfavorable condition may result inasmuch as the slabs subsequently passed along may pile up on top of those previously fed onto the stepped skids. When the riser is, of'the proper height for a given slab thickness, slabs of a group which trail will drop behind and align themselves in edge to edge relationship with respect to those immediately ahead of them and move forward alongside of rather than in overlapped relationship with respect thereto.

In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle and operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I consider to represent the best embodiment thereof. However, I desire to have it understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for separating and arranging in orderly fashion a group of elongated workpieces such as billets, slabs and the like, and including transfer means upon which workpieces are placed for delivery thereto, said apparatus comprising a pair of downwardly sloping parallel skids with the upper ends thereof adjacent to said transfer means, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said skids, a plurality of successive pairs of members, the members of each pair being laterally spaced and parallel to one another and reciprocable in a linear forward and rearward direction, the members of succeeding pairs being at a lower level than and having their forward ends projecting beyond the forward end-s of those immediately preceding, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said members similar to and placed adjacent those formed on said skids and on forward movement thereof adapted to engage with and urge forward in step-by-step movement workpieces discharged by said transfer means to the stepped portions of said skids and on rearward movement to withdraw themselves from engagement with said workpieces and driving means for reciprocating said members and adapted to impose upon each pair of members a speed of reciprocation less in magnitude than that imposed upon the members immediately preceding, thus to reduce the speed of moveh wo p e es, driving m a s or f e in' fe a th workpieces to the delivery end of said transfer means, a Pai of d a dly l pi i r ra l k d wi h th 't pp ends thereof adjacent to said transfer means, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said skids, a plurality of successive pairs of members, the members of each pair being laterally spaced and parallel to one another and reciprocable in a linear forward and rearward direction, the members of succeeding pairs being immediately beneath with the forward ends thereof projecting beyond the forward ends of those directly above, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said members similar to and placed adjacent those formed on said skids and on forward movement thereof adapted to engage and urge forward in step-by-step movement workpieces discharged by said transfer means to the stepped portions of said skids and'on rearwardmovenient to withdraw themselves from engag ment with said work- P eces a driving e n f e p ccat ng sa m mb an ad pt o pose n 'each Pa r o memb s a pe d of reciprocation less in'magnitudefthan'that imposed upon the members immediately preceding, thus to reduce the speed of movement of the workpieces along said skids,

3, In apparatusfor separating and ar'ranging'in orderly fashion a grou pof elongated workpieces suchas billets, slabs and the like, transfer ime an's having a downward slopiii'g' surface 'at the receiving end thereof and upon whi o pi ces e Pla e a dcasic'ad do n ar y he y Partially to ep a e kalnd spr a par e drkpieces, driving means for feeding forward the'workpieces to the delivery endof saidtransfer m'e'ans,'a pair bfd wn a d y l p n p a el sk ds Withth -HPP I d he o adiacen 'to s i t ans e m ans; ct pe 'not ie pq ti ns' cnn d. 1 th upp dges or sa s i sg'a p ua ity Of ucc ss ve pa rsv m m er pa a l l t 'an a1- jacent said skids, each'pair of members being'laterally spaced and reciprocable in a linear forward and rearward d r cti n lon Sa d skids t e m mb f u c e ng pairs lbeing immediately beneath with the forward ends thsreetpmie t ng eyon th or en of h s r 'yiabc 'e, tepped no ched por o s f m he uppe edges'of said members adjacent to and similarto and plaged adjacent those formed on saidskidsand on forward movement thereof adapted to engage with and urge forward in step-by-step movement workpieces discharged by said transfer means to the stepped portions of said skids and on rearward movement to withdraw themselves from engagement with said workpieces and driving means forreciprocating said members and adapted to impose upon each pair of members a speed of reciprocation less in magnitude than that imposed upon the members immediately preceding, thus to reduce the speed of movement of the workpieces along said skids.

4. In apparatus for separating and arranging in orderly fashion a groupof elongated workpieces such as billets, slabs and the like,'stationary'workpiece supporting skids having a downward sloping surface at the receiving end thereof and upon which a group of workpieces is placed and cascaded downwardly thereby partially to separate and spread apart the workpieces along said skids, means for intermittently feeding the workpieces forwardly to the delivery end of said skids, a pair of downwardly sloping parallel skids with the upper ends thereof adjacent to the delivery end of said first-mentioned skids, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said sloping skids, a plurality of successive pairs of members, the members of each pair being laterally spaced and parallel to one another and reciprocable in a linear forward and rearward direction, the members of succeeding pairs being immediately beneath with the forward ends thereof extending beyond the forward ends of those directly above, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said members similar to and placed adjacent those formed on said notched skids and on forward movement thereof adapted to engage with and intermittently urge forward a 6 workpieasaen eea by sa fe d n m ans o t e pp pc ion sa d ds and n arw mo ment o with;

draw themselves from engagement with said workpieces and d'niying means for reciprocating 'said members and adapted to impose upon eachpair of members a speed of reciprocation lessin magnitude than that imposed upon the members immediately preceding, thus to reduce the speed of movement "of the workpieces along said skids.

5. In' apparatus :for separating and arranging in orderly fashion a group of elongated workpieces such as billet-s, slabs and the like, -a pair offparjallel laterally spaced stationary elongatedmembers'having' a plurality'of relatively wide stepped pprtionseX-tendingalong the length thereof, a pair of parallel laterallysp'aced linearly reciprocable elongated members havingapl'urality of similar relatively wide stepped portions extending along the lengths thereof and placed transversely adjacent to those formed on said skids, said reciprocable members on forward movement thereof being operatively a'rrangedto displace workpieces broadside in step-by-step'niovement along the stepped portions for discharge beyond the ends of saidstationary members and on rearward movement to withdraw themselves from engagement said workpieces, a second pair of workpiece receiving laterally spaced stationary members parallel to and eXtending'beyond said first-mentioned stationary members for receiving workpiece-s discharged theretoby said reciprocable'niembers and having a plurality of relatively narrow stepped portions extending along the leng th's thefeof, a plurality of pairs of linearly r'e cipr ocable members parallel to said second-mentioned stationary members having relatively narrow stepped portions formed along their lengths and arranged in two tiers with the forward ends of those beneath projecting farther forwafdthan those' ab'dve, said tie'r'edme-m-bers on forward movement thereof being'o'peratively'arianged to displace workpieceshroadside in astep b'y-step movement aloi sai'd last-mentioned stationary members with the succeeding lower tiered niembers imposing a lesser speed of 'rriovement up'on' the 'workpieces than that imposedby the'members immediately above.

6. 'ma -ar'atusrdr separating and'arra'nging in orderly fashion'a group of elongated workpieces such as billets, slabs and the like, a pair of parallel laterally'sp'aced stasentr elongated members having a plurality of relatively wide stepped portions extending along the lengths thereof and an inclined portion attheir outer ends upon which workpieces may be placed in a group and cascaded downward for deposit upon said members, a pair of parallel laterally spaced linearly'reciprocable elongated members having a plurality of similar relatively wide stepped portions ejitendingalong'the lengths thereof and placed transversely adjacent to those formed on said skids, said reciprocable members on forward'movement thereof being operatively arranged to displace workpieces broadside in step-by-step movement along the stepped portions and for delivery beyond the ends of said stationary members and on'rearward movement to withdraw themselves from engagement with said workpieces, a second pair of laterallly spaced stationary members parallel to and extending beyond said first-mentioned stationary members for receiving workpieces delivered thereto by said reciprocable members and having a plurality of relatively narrow stepped portions extending along the lengths thereof, a plurality of pairs of linearly reciprocab le members parallel to said second-mentioned stationary members arranged in two tiers with the forward ends of those beneath projecting farther forward than those above and having relatively narrow stepped portions formed along their lengths, said tiered members on forward movement thereof being operatively arranged to displace workpieces broadside in a step-by-step movement along said lastmentioned stationary members with the succeeding lower tiered members imposing a lesser speed of movement upon the workpieces than that imposed by the members immediatelv above.

7. In apparatus for separating and arranging in orderly, fashion a group of elongated workpieces such as billets, slabs and the like, a pair of parallel laterally-spaced staionary elongated members having a plurality of relatively wide stepped portions extending along the length thereof, a pair of parallel laterally spaced linearly reciprocable elongated members having a plurality of similar relatively wide stepped portions extending along the lengths thereof, said reciprocable members on forward movement thereof being operatively arranged to displace workpieces broadside in step-by-step movement along the stepped portions and for dischargetbeyond the ends of said stationary members and on rearward movement to withdraw themselves from engagement with said workpieces, a second pair of laterally spaced stationary members parallel to and extending beyond said first-mentioned stationary members for receiving workpieces discharged thereto by said reciprocable members and having a plurality of relatively narrow stepped portions extending along the lengths thereof, a plurality of pairs of linearly reciprocable members parallel to said second-mentioned stationary members having relatively narrow stepped portions formed along their lengths and arranged in two tiers with the forward ends of those a the lower level project-v ing farther forward than those above, said tiered members on forward movement thereof being operatively arranged to displace workpieces broadside in a step-by-step movement along said last-mentioned stationary members with the succeeding lower-tiered members imposing a lesser speed of movement upon the workpieces than that imposed by the members immediately above and on rearward movement to withdraw themselves from engagement with said workpieces, and a conveyor adjacent the tiered members for receiving workpieces delivered broadside thereto by said members.

8. Apparatus for separating and arranging in orderly fashion a group of elongated workpieces suchas billets, slabs and the like, a transfer means comprising a plurality of skids having stepped portions on the upper edge thereof, a plurality of stepped movable members adjacent thereto, driving means adapted to urge forward said movable members at one speed and rearward at a relatively greater rate of speed, a pair of downwardly sloping parallel skids with the upper ends thereof adjacent said transfer means, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said skids, a plurality of successive pairs of members, the members of each pair being laterally spaced and parallel to one another and reciprocable in a linear forward and rearward direction, the members of succeeding pairs being at a lower level and having their forward ends projecting beyond the forward ends of those immediately preceding, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said members similar to those formed on said skids and on forward movement of said members adapted to engage with and urge forward in step-by-step movement workpieces discharged by said transfer means to the stepped portions of said skids and on rearward movement to withdraw themselves from engagement with said workpieces and driving means for reciprocating said members and adaptedto impose upon each pair of members a speed of reciprocation less in magnitude than that imposed upon the members immediately preceding, thus to reduce the speed of movement of the workpieces along said skids.

9. Apparatus for separating and arranging in orderly fashion a group of elongated workpieces such as billets, slabs and the like, a transfer means comprising a plurality of skids having stepped portions on the upper edge thereof, a plurality of stepped movable members adjacent thereto, driving means adapted to urge forward said movable members in a linear direction a one speed and rearward at a relatively greater rate of speed, a pair of downwardly sloping parallel skids with theupper ends, thereof adjacent said transfer means, stepped notched portions formed 'on the upper edges of said skids, a plurality of successive.

pairs of members, the, members of each pair being laterally spaced and parallel to one another and reciprocable in a linear forward and rearward direction, the members of succeeding pairs being at a' lower level and having their forward ends projecting beyond the forward ends of those immediately preceding, stepped notched portions formed on the upper edges of said members similar to those formed on said skids and placed transversely adjacent to those formed on said skids and on forward movement of said members adapted to engage with and urge forward in sep-by-step movement workpieces discharged by said transfer means to the stepped portions of said skids and driving means comprising a motor, separate speed reducoperatively arranged to impose upon said reciprocable members a forward speed less in magnitude than the rearward speed thereof.

11. Apparatus for separating and arranging in orderly fashion a group of elongated workpieces such as billets,

' slabs and the like according to claim 8 in which the plurality of successive pairs of members comprise three in number and of which the first pair is reciprocated two to three times faster than the intermediate pair and four to nine times faster than the last pair.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 722,937 Begg Mar. 17, 1903 1,675,949 McKee July 3, 1928 1,889,039 Quinn Nov. 29, 1932 2,597,944 Morgan May 27, 1952 

